Fastening device



Sept. 17, 1935. w'. 'PFEIFER, JR 2,014,451

FASTENING DEVICE Filed March 30, 1935 Patented Sept. 17, 1935 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to fastening devices and is moreparticularly directed to means for anchoring or securing corrugated orother metal sheeting to elements of a support- 5 ing frame, in variousforms of construction work.

While my invention, as hereinafter will become manifest, possesses awide range of utility in the erection of sheet metal structures of many.types in different fields, for the purposes of this disclosure I haveelected to describe it, more or less specifically, as it may bepracticed in the assembly of sheets of corrugated metal upon rigidsupporting members for the formation of a metal roof for a building orthe like. It will be understood, however, that this ismerelyillustrative and is not to be construed, in any sense, as limiting myinvention to this particular application.

As is well known, in constructing a building roof of corrugated metalsheeting, it is the standard practice to overlap the sheets inwardly oftheir edges and anchor the overlapped portions to the purlins or othersupporting members of the roof framework. Numerous means for anchoringor fastening the sheets upon the framework have been proposed, none ofwhich, however, has

proven entirely satisfactory in meeting the demand for low productionand installation costs combined with efficient performance of theintended function thereof. For example, in some instances, the fasteningdevices are of a special design and their use is consequently limited tocertain kinds of work, while in others the devices are such as tomeasurably increase the labor outlay in the erection of a roof in whichthey are em- 'ployed. In those forms of prior devices which are mostgenerally utilized, a rivetting operation is necessary in securing thesheets to the purlins and in the performance of this operation itfrequently happens that the ridges of the corrugations upon which therivets are to be upset are indented to an appreciable degree, or themetal ruptured or broken about the rivet holes. This, obviously, notonly endangers the security of the jointure of the sheeting with thepurlins but makes it impossible to produce a watertight roof.

The same is true, to a considerable extent, where bolts are utilized inthe assembly of the anchoring devices, it being evident that, unless theamount of tension exerted upon the sheet metal in the application of thesecuring nut to the bolt is carefully controlled, with the concomitantincrease in labor costs, the relatively thin material of the sheetingwill be susceptible to damage.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that none of the devices nowavailable for securing corrugated metal sheeting to rigid supportingmembers responds to the demand for low production and installation costswith efficiency in the performance of the work to which they are to be 5applied and, therefore, it is the general object of this invention toprovide a means and method of fastening sheets of corrugated metal totheir supporting elements which will meet this demand in a most simpleand practical manner.

More specifically, it is the object of this invention to provide adevice for fastening sheets of corrugated metal to cooperatingsupporting members whereby the erection of a structure in which they areemployed will not only be expedited, 15 but a secure and water-tightjointure of the sheets will be effected simultaneously with theirconnection to the supporting members.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a means for fasteningcorrugated sheets to 20 relatively rigid supporting members, having theaforesaid characteristics and advantages, wherein the possibility ofdeformation or rupture of the ridges of the sheeting in the applicationof the fastening devices will be entirely eliminated, in a 23 simple andpractical manner, thus obviating the waste in labor and material whichfrequently results from the necessity of disassembling and discardingsheeting that may have been rendered non-serviceable by careless orinexpert perfor- 3U mance of the jointure and anchoring operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for anchoring metalsheeting to suitable supports, in different forms of construction workwherein the jointure between the sheets is ren- 3 dered water-tight orleak-proof co-incidentally with the interlocking of the sheets and thesupports, my means comprising an assembly of cooperating elements forsimultaneously effecting a leak-proof jointure of the sheets and theirposi- 40 tive connection to their supports in a single installationoperation. I

Other objects and advantages flowing from the practicing of my inventionwill become evident as the description proceeds and I would have itclearly understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the fullrange of equivalents, both in structure and in use, to which I may beentitled under my invention in its broadest aspect.

A preferred embodiment of my invention which is particularly responsiveto the requirements of roof construction is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a view in elevation, partlyin section, showing my fastening device as it functions in anchoringcorrugated metal sheets to a supporting member.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation, looking toward the web of the channelmember, taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective of an element of the fastening deviceassembly, which functions as a. support for the ridge of the sheeting,in the use of my invention.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of the sheetsupport engaging componentof my device.

Figure 5 is also a view in perspective, showing fragments of overlappedsheets of corrugated metal interlocked with their supporting member bythe use of my invention.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing a slightly modified formof the invention.

Figure 7 is an elevation of the aperture sealing element of my assembly,and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modification of the ridge supportingelement shown in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, in detail, in which like characters ofreference are employed to designate similar parts in the several views,and more particularly to the form of the invention illustrated inFigures 1 to 5, inclusive, 1 indicates a bracket or plate adapted forinterlocking engagement with the sheet-supporting member of the roof orother construction, which, in the present showing, is a purlin of theconventional channel cross section, as shown at 8. This bracket, as willbe observed, is of the so-called hook type, the body I and co-operatingnose 1*, respectively, conforming to the-contour of the outer and innerfaces of the purlin flange with which it is associated as and for thepurposes hereinafter described.

It will be noted that the aforesaid bracket is provided with a pluralityof alined apertures 9, l and H through a pre-selected one of which thethreaded end of the bolt I0, which may be of the screw-head type, isadapted to be passed to receive the securing nut II, the assembledfastening device also including a preferably annular washer or gasketI2, preferably of lead or other soft metal or of any other material thatwill resist corrosion and cooperate with the bolt head in thefunctioning of my device in attaining the objectives to which theinvention is directed.

In utilizing my fastening means, the corrugated sheets, l3 and M, areoverlapped upon the purlin 8, in accordance with the usual practice, thesheets being provided with a series of registering apertures alinedalong their mated edges, through which the bolts of the severalfastening devices are adapted to be passed, so that the shanks thereofwill parallel the web of the purlin, substantially as shown in Figure 1of the drawing. The aforesaid openings for the reception of the boltsmay be formed in the sheets prior to their location upon the purlins orafter their edges have been overlapped, either by drilling or punching,or, if desired, the end of the shank of the bolt may be tapered so thatthe bolt may be driven therethrough to provide the necessary aperturesin the mated sheets, it being obvious, of course, that a washer I2 isapplied to each bolt before it is entered in the apertures of the sheetswith which it is to cooperate.

In order that the sheeting along the ridges l3 l4 in which the bolts areseated may not become distorted or the metal surrounding the bolt holestherein may not be broken or ruptured in the operation of anchoring thesheets to the purlins, I employ a shoulder or abutment 2,014,451 I Iwhich is preferably formed from relatively flat which, of course, thecomplemental ridge of the outer sheet is in registration. As will beobvious, when the shoulder or abutment is in position, the bolt shank,adjacent the sheeting is straddled by the parallel arms thereof, thecurved surface l5 connecting the arms being preferably extended belowthe plane of the lower edges thereof, as at l5 to form a stop I 5 whichwill abut against the web of the purlin when the shoulder is in itsproper functioning position, it being apparent that by the provision ofthis stop, the alinement of the shoulder or support IS with thelongitudinal axis of the ridge within which it is to be located in theplacement of the shoulder is facilitated.

Following the location of the bolt within the sheeting apertures and thepositioning of the abutment or shoulder l5, between the upper flange ofthe purlin and the sheeting, as just described, or at any otherconvenient stage in the sheet-anchoring operation, the lower end of thebolt shank is entered in the appropriate aperture of the bracket 1,depending upon the transverse measurements of the lower flange of thepurlin, to position the bolt parallel to its web. The securing nut H isthen applied to the bolt and turned up to draw the sheeting and thecooperating shoulder or abutment l5 into close association with theupper flange 8 of the purlin, it being manifest, of course, that thebracket is engaged with the purlin flange as it is designed to functionin the employment of my invention. The pressure exerted upon the washeror gasket I5 by the head of the bolt, as a result of the turning up ofthe nut upon the bolt, tends to compress and spread the metal of thewasher or gasket so that it not only effectively seals the sheetingapertures through which the bolt shank passes but functions as a mediumfor interlocking the surfaces of the two relatively harder metalsbetween which it is interposed, thereby materially increasing theeificiency of my anchoring device in resisting forces detrimental to theconstant maintenance of the jointure, as vibration and the normalexpansion and contraction of the metals, due to climatic or otherconditions.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, in lieu ofthe bolt l0 and the bracket 1, I employ a bolt H, the end of the shankof which has a hook formation to embrace the lower flange of the purlinsimilarly to the bracket 1, the threaded portion of the bolt, in thisembodiment of my invention, extending through the alined apertures ofthe overlapped sheets to receive a cap or acorn nut l8, in threadedengagement therewith, a washer or gasket of a softer material than thecap nut being interposed between the latter and the outer surface of thesheeting. This washer may be similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5or it may be of a special design as illustrated in Figure 7, in which itwill be noted that both faces in the zone of its central aperture areformed with substantially semi-spherical bosses I9 and 20, these bossesoperating with the head of the bore of the cap nut i8 and the registeredapertures of the sheets to provide a positive and water-tight jointureof the locking device and the sheets. I

In Figure 8 there is illustrated a slightly modifled form of abutmentfor interposition between a purlin and the ridges of the sheetingthrough which the fastening bolts are to be passed, from which it willbe noted, the stop l is omitted and the ends of the arms 2| and 22 areof an a proximately wedge-shape formation, as indicated at 2| and 22While I have described my invention more or less specifically withrelation tothe preferred embodiment and modified forms thereofillustrated herein, it will be evident that the elements of my fasteningdevice may vary in design, within certain limits, to meet variousconstruction conditions, without departing from the spirit and scope ofmy invention, as defined by the appended claims; also that, asheretofore pointed out, the simplicity and ease of application of myfastening device, as well as the cooperation of the several elementsthereof, enables me to attain the objectives to which my invention isdirected, not only in the formation of a sheeting metal roof, but in allof those forms of construction work wherein it is desirable or necessaryto anchor corrugated metal sheeting to a relatively rigid supportingframe in a manner which will assure a positive and water-tight jointureof the sheetinc.

I claim:

1. A device for fastening corrugated metal sheeting to a channel memberof a supporting framework, comprising a bolt, a bracket conformed toengage the inner and outer surfaces of the lower flange of said channelmember and projecting beyond the web thereof, theprojecting portion ofsaid bracket being provided with a plurality of apertures, through apre-selected one of which said bolt is adapted to extend, means inthreaded engagement with the protruding end of said bolt and co-actingwith said bracket to anchor said sheets to said support and a U-shapedfitting embodying a portion to abut upon the web of said member adaptedto be inserted between said sheeting and said channel member andembracing said bolt, to support the sheeting for perforation for thereception of said bolt and to resist distortion of the sheeting inresponse to the functioning of the aforesaid anchoring means.

2. A device for supporting the hill section of a piece of corrugatedmetal'sheeting from a flat surface of a structural element upon whichthe dale sections on either side thereof are superposed, for resistingdistortion of the crest of said hill in its perforation for thereception of an anchoring bolt and in the functioning of the anchoringmedia, comprising a U-shaped member having its parallel sides providedwith wedge shaped entering ends merging into flat top and bottom edges,adapted respectively to support the under part of the hill section ofthe sheeting and abut upon the flat supporting surface of said element,when said member is disposed within said hill, the base of said memberconnecting its aforesaid lower parallel sides being extended therebelowto form a shoulder, the face of which is adapted to abut against part ofsaid structural element, disposed at a right angle to that with whichsaid lower edges contact, whereby said shoulder will function as a stopand to center the longitudinal axis of said member on the longitudinalaxis of said hill within which said member is located.

3. A means for fastening corrugated metal sheeting to a flanged memberof a supporting framework, comprising a bolt, a bracket having one endconformed to engage the inner and outer faces of the flange of suchmember, the other end thereof extending beyond the web of said memberand being provided with bolt-receiving apertures, a U-shaped fitting,embodying a portion formed to abut upon the web of said member, adaptedto straddle said bolt with its parallel surfaces in bearing contactrespectively with the flange of said member and the opposed sheeting, aseal f r the bolt orifice in the sheeting formed of I, compressiblematerial and having a raised central zone apertured to embrace said boltin juxtaposition to its head, and means for threaded engagement withsaid bolt to coact with said bracket in anchoring said sheeting to saidsupport, the raised central portion of said seal being deformable intoclose association with the underside of the bolt head, to provide anhermetic jointure between the sheeting and the anchoring device.

WILLIAM PFEIFER, JR.

